Tiger Cubs (notes on the minors)

[papalawrence]

5 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

I don’t see that happening, nor do I think they should.  He was a nice bridge and hedge in case Tork couldn’t hit.  He strikes me as someone who could quickly decline and his unwillingness (alleged) to play anywhere but 2B does not fit with how Hinch likes to utilize his roster.

He is only 28. I doubt it happens either, but I would love for Harris to sign him to something like 3/54. 

[Edman85]

Sounds like the perfect guy to give a QO to. If he accepts, a one year insurance deal. Decline and draft pick.

[papalawrence]

Just now, Edman85 said:

Sounds like the perfect guy to give a QO to. If he accepts, a one year insurance deal. Decline and draft pick.

Good point

[gehringer_2]

9 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

He strikes me as someone who could quickly decline and his unwillingness (alleged) to play anywhere but 2B does not fit with how Hinch likes to utilize his roster.

The defensive limitation is certainly a consideration, but OTOH, he is such a perfect example of the way the Tigers want hitters to work pitchers that I think they'd be glad to have him back from the player standpoint, but still probably not from the contract standpoint!

[RatkoVarda]

they can offer Gleyber a QO. I don't think he accepts it. they could get the ~35th pick in the 2026 draft.

if he does accept, you end up with a one year deal at $22M - a bit of an overpay, but he has the approach they want from batters, even if the D and flexibility are not there. would block Lee and Jung in 26, but they would find ABs for McGonigle whenever he is promoted. but they would be fine without Torres:

Tork

McKinstry/Jung/Lee/Anderson

Baez/Sweeney/McGonigle

Keith/Ibanez/Vierling

[Tenacious D]

14 minutes ago, RatkoVarda said:

they can offer Gleyber a QO. I don't think he accepts it. they could get the ~35th pick in the 2026 draft.

if he does accept, you end up with a one year deal at $22M - a bit of an overpay, but he has the approach they want from batters, even if the D and flexibility are not there. would block Lee and Jung in 26, but they would find ABs for McGonigle whenever he is promoted. but they would be fine without Torres:

Tork

McKinstry/Jung/Lee/Anderson

Baez/Sweeney/McGonigle

Keith/Ibanez/Vierling

Agree with this approach.  No reason to commit beyond one more season.

Since it was made clear he was coming for one season to establish himself, I wonder if there was a gentleman’s agreement that the Tigers would not put a QO on him?

[Graterol]

1 hour ago, Nate7474 said:

It would be nice to bring Torres back but he’s earned a long term sizable contract with his play this year. I don’t think the Tigers will meet that price. I see 2nd next year as Lee/Jung/McKinstry/Ibanez. Then potentially McGonigle working into there or SS before then end of the year and even possible from the start. That’s why I think Jung is a trade candidate.  

Obviously a lot can change, but I have to think/hope next year the 13 position players are:

C- Dingler/Rogers (or upgrade on Rogers)

1B- Tork

2B or 3B: Keith

SS or 2B: McGonigle

2B or 3B: McKinstry

OF/DH: Greene/Meadows/Perez/Carp

Bench: Baez/Vierling/Ibanez

Lee could potentially replace Ibanez. You could certainly upgrade Perez/McKinstry and move them to super sub (Torres for example). But I really see no way that Jung fits the roster, unless there is an injury to Keith or McKinstry.

[Tenacious D]

1 hour ago, Graterol said:

Obviously a lot can change, but I have to think/hope next year the 13 position players are:

C- Dingler/Rogers (or upgrade on Rogers)

1B- Tork

2B or 3B: Keith

SS or 2B: McGonigle

2B or 3B: McKinstry

OF/DH: Greene/Meadows/Perez/Carp

Bench: Baez/Vierling/Ibanez

Lee could potentially replace Ibanez. You could certainly upgrade Perez/McKinstry and move them to super sub (Torres for example). But I really see no way that Jung fits the roster, unless there is an injury to Keith or McKinstry.

I’d be a bit bummed if McKinstry is counted on as a starter next year.

[gehringer_2]

46 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

I’d be a bit bummed if McKinstry is counted on as a starter next year.

I don't see either him or Javy having a regular starting gig. Both will can and will move around a lot and play as much as they hit. 

I have a feeling Parker Meadows is not going to be a factor. He can't stay on the field and when he's on it he doesn't hit, so CF will look like this year, mostly Javy and Wenceel and maybe some Vierling if he can stay on the field.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Edited Wednesday at 09:43 PM by gehringer_2

[monkeytargets39]

3 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

they can offer Gleyber a QO. I don't think he accepts it. they could get the ~35th pick in the 2026 draft.

if he does accept, you end up with a one year deal at $22M - a bit of an overpay, but he has the approach they want from batters, even if the D and flexibility are not there. would block Lee and Jung in 26, but they would find ABs for McGonigle whenever he is promoted. but they would be fine without Torres:

Tork

McKinstry/Jung/Lee/Anderson

Baez/Sweeney/McGonigle

Keith/Ibanez/Vierling

The infield would look a lot better next year if it was Tork/Torres/McGonigle/Keith….  Anything less than that and we are grasping at straws trying to get league average production.

Nothing against Lee and Anderson, but we need to see what they can do pretty soon and the longer we piddle around with Sweeney/Ibanez/McKinstry/Vierling/Kriedler/etc., the more likely it is that they all regress to below replacement level.  Jung needs to put it together next time he’s up in Detroit or he’s gonna end up Manning’d.
 

If we don’t make a deep playoff run this year, then I feel like the strategy needs to start shifting away from all of these plug and play types and start going more towards guys who can put together good at bats vs RH AND LH pitching consistently and less with the platooning.  Carpenter is an obvious exception.  A lot of these other guys have been good bridge guys to get us more competitive, but the next step will need to be taken by Spring 2027 at minimum with McG/Clark/Lee/Anderson/Briceno/Liranzo/etc.  If we make it to ALCS and make that competitive at minimum, then you can justify running back all the Swiss Army knife players another year.

Edited Wednesday at 09:55 PM by monkeytargets39

[Cruzer1]

6 hours ago, Tenacious D said:

I think Lee and Jung are in the mix at 2B next season.

I don't think Jung will be tendered.

[4hzglory]

27 minutes ago, Cruzer1 said:

I don't think Jung will be tendered.

Isn’t he still at league minimum?  I don’t think there’s anyway they non-tender him yet.  Trade maybe, but not non-tendered.

[Tenacious D]

12 minutes ago, 4hzglory said:

Isn’t he still at league minimum?  I don’t think there’s anyway they non-tender him yet.  Trade maybe, but not non-tendered.

Agree.  They aren’t going to cut bait after one season setback.  If they did, Tork would now be a Rockie.

Edited Thursday at 01:06 AM by Tenacious D

[Edman85]

1 hour ago, 4hzglory said:

Isn’t he still at league minimum?  I don’t think there’s anyway they non-tender him yet.  Trade maybe, but not non-tendered.

You can nontender anybody, but doing so to Jung right now would be asinine.

[Sports_Freak]

Eduardo Valencia had 7 RBI for Toledo tonight. A grand slam and a 3 run homer. 

[Graterol]

4 hours ago, monkeytargets39 said:

The infield would look a lot better next year if it was Tork/Torres/McGonigle/Keith….  Anything less than that and we are grasping at straws trying to get league average production.

Nothing against Lee and Anderson, but we need to see what they can do pretty soon and the longer we piddle around with Sweeney/Ibanez/McKinstry/Vierling/Kriedler/etc., the more likely it is that they all regress to below replacement level.  Jung needs to put it together next time he’s up in Detroit or he’s gonna end up Manning’d.
 

If we don’t make a deep playoff run this year, then I feel like the strategy needs to start shifting away from all of these plug and play types and start going more towards guys who can put together good at bats vs RH AND LH pitching consistently and less with the platooning.  Carpenter is an obvious exception.  A lot of these other guys have been good bridge guys to get us more competitive, but the next step will need to be taken by Spring 2027 at minimum with McG/Clark/Lee/Anderson/Briceno/Liranzo/etc.  If we make it to ALCS and make that competitive at minimum, then you can justify running back all the Swiss Army knife players another year.

Agree that McKinstry, Baez, and probably even Perez really belong on the bench. Should be some solid options if Torres doesn’t re-sign, with Kim, Suarez, Bichette, Bregman, etc free agesnts. I just don’t see a path for Anderson, Jung, and probably Lee next year. Carp needing a RH platoon partner also makes bench construction difficult. Wouldn’t shock me if Carp was a trade candidate.

[gehringer_2]

the Tigers are tied for 7 most runs scored in baseball and most of the teams ahead of them play in small ballparks. Most nights we are sending 8 of 9 batters to the plate with OPS+ >100 (and Javy is at 95). This set of players is also +30 R(drs) I wouldn't be so quick to try to jettison the pieces of this lineup for 'the grass is greener'. Other than injuries, the Tigers have the luxury of pretty much requiring the next crop of guys to have to force their way onto the line-up.

Edited Thursday at 03:19 AM by gehringer_2

[Tenacious D]

49 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Eduardo Valencia had 7 RBI for Toledo tonight. A grand slam and a 3 run homer. 

No triples?  Meh

[LongLiveMaroth]

Toledo W 7-4
Lee 1/5 3K
Malloy 2/5 2K
Anderson 2/5 K
Cruz 1/4 BB K
Valencia 2/3 7RBI BB 2 HR (Could see someone grabbing him in the Rule 5) 
Urquidy 2IP H ER BB 3K
Heuer 2IP 2H 2R 0ER BB 3K

Erie GM1 L 3-0
Liranzo 0/3 2K
Briceno 0/3 K
Hamm 5IP 4H 3ER BB

Erie GM2 L 4-2
McGonigle 0/3 K
Kohlhepp 1IP 2K

WM W 2-1
Strong 0/4 K
Graham 1/3 BB K
Lockhart 3.2IP 3H 2BB 5K
Minton 5IP 4H ER 5K

Lakeland GM1 L 7-5 
Rucker 0/3 BB
Warwick 2/3 2RBI K 2B
Wilmer Flores 1IP 2K
Mota 3IP 3H BB 2K

Lakeland GM2 L 7-1
Dumesnil 1/3 BB 2SB
Goodman 1/3 K 3B
Diaz 5IP 3H 4ER 2BB 4K

 

[IdahoBert]

12 hours ago, Tenacious D said:

Eduardo Valencia

I’m pretty focused on the big league club and I am aware of our top prospects, but I’ve never heard of this guy. Does he have real promise? 

[Tigermojo]

41 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

I’m pretty focused on the big league club and I am aware of our top prospects, but I’ve never heard of this guy. Does he have real promise? 

Late bloomer maybe. He's 25. Never really hit before this year. I'm not sure about his defense. He's not on the top 30 prospect list. Probably a long shot.

[LongLiveMaroth]

1 hour ago, Tigermojo said:

Late bloomer maybe. He's 25. Never really hit before this year. I'm not sure about his defense. He's not on the top 30 prospect list. Probably a long shot.

The one thing to note this is his first real healthy season in a while but he is also not a great defensive catcher from what I have read so he may be more of a DH/1B type. Still he is mashing AAA pitching and he mashed AA pitching as well.

[RatkoVarda]

i can't see AJ wanting to carry a poor defensive catcher; average catcher? maybe; do not know where Valencia lands

[monkeytargets39]

Drew Sommers getting a call up.

[Edman85]

15 minutes ago, monkeytargets39 said:

Drew Sommers getting a call up.

Had a feeling that would happen once they sent Hurter and Horn down.

I wonder if this is the end of the road for Kahnle...